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Study Abroad | Athens

Greece | The American College of Greece | Fall 2023
The Acropolis of Athens.
A student dancing near pillars on the Acropolis in Greece.

Select Your Program Option:

  • Fall 2023

  • Spring 2024

  • Fall 2024

  • Spring 2025

Overview

Spend a semester or academic year in the stunning and modern city of Athens, Greece, with AIFS! Study a variety of academic program options at DEREE – The American College of Greece. Located on a beautiful, wooded hillside in the attractive suburb of Aghia Paraskevi, the campus is home to a student population of over 2,500. Over 85% of the student body year round is Greek, so AIFS students have plenty of opportunities to make local friends.

What’s Included

The AIFS inclusive program fee includes all of the great features below in addition to many pre-departure, on-site and upon-return services to help students make the most of their time abroad.

Review Our Policies
  • Tuition

    Up to 15 semester credits depending on program and course selection

  • Courses

    Wide variety of courses available; taught in English

  • Housing

    Student residence complex

  • Excursions & Day Trips

    Day trips to Ancient Delphi and Sanctuary of Apollo, Nafplio and Palamidi Castle and a Greek Island

  • Cultural & Social Activities

    A wide range of AIFS-organized cultural activities and social events to enrich your experience

  • On-Site Program Director

    to help with any questions or advice you may need throughout the program

  • Health & Safety

    24/7 emergency support and comprehensive insurance
  • Personal/Professional Development

    Access to the renowned Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment and alumni network
  • Green Initiative

Additional Options & Opportunities

Program Details: Study Abroad | Athens Full Curriculum

Program is closed

Dates

September 7, 2023December 21, 2023

Term

Fall

Institution

The American College of Greece

Application Deadline

July 1, 2023

Inclusive Fees

$16,990

Stay for a year to save on cost

Eligibility

Open to Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Minimum of 2.5 GPA

Additional requirements may vary by course selection. See Academic section below.

Visa Requirements

A student visa is required by the European Union for non-EU citizens or residents staying in Greece for more than 90 days. Semester students are responsible for obtaining the visa and will need to travel to a Greek Consulate at their own expense to apply for the passport/visa in person. After acceptance AIFS will provide detailed visa information and the official documents required for students to apply for the visa. Students must contact the Greek Embassy or Consulate directly for the appropriate visa forms.

Areas of Interest

  • Accounting
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Area Studies
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Business Administration
  • Communications
  • Criminal Justice
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • English
  • Environmental Studies
  • Film Studies
  • Finance
  • Fitness and Recreation
  • Foreign Language
  • Geography
  • Greek Language
  • Health Sciences
  • History
  • Hospitality Management
  • International Business
  • Law
  • Literature
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Multidisciplinary
  • Music
  • Natural Resources & Conservation
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • Theater

Global Themes

  • Arts, Culture and Creative Industries
  • Business, Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
  • Education, Social Services, and Psychology
  • Global Peace, International Security and Human Rights
  • Global Sustainability
  • Health Sciences and STEM
  • Language, History and Culture
  • Social and Criminal Justice
Learn More About Global Themes

Academics

AIFS Abroad offers a unique global educational experience for students on this program, with the following academic options available:

DEREE – The American College of Greece, founded in 1875, is the oldest and largest independent, American-sponsored college or university in Europe. With a student population of over 2,900 and offering over 1,000 courses each year, it is the only institution in Athens with American accreditation. 

Located on a beautiful, wooded hillside in the attractive suburb of Aghia Paraskevi, the college’s tree-lined campus offers an ideal setting to study in Greece, with modern classrooms, an impressive library and Olympic-standard athletic facilities. Over 85% of the student body is Greek, giving AIFS students ample opportunity to make local friends. 

  • Accounting
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Area Studies
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Business Administration
  • Communications
  • Criminal Justice
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • English
  • Environmental Studies
  • Film Studies
  • Finance
  • Fitness and Recreation
  • Foreign Language
  • Geography
  • Greek Language
  • Health Sciences
  • History
  • Hospitality Management
  • International Business
  • Law
  • Literature
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Multidisciplinary
  • Music
  • Natural Resources & Conservation
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • Theater

Full Curriculum means that you can choose any course (subject to prerequisites) from ACG’s entire curriculum. There are over 1,000 courses available across a huge range of subject fields. Courses meet for 3 hours per week and are recommended for 3 credits. Take up to 5 courses (minimum of 4) for a total of 15 credits. All courses are taught in English and classes are from Monday through Friday.

AIFS students with a 3.0 GPA may apply for an on-campus internship position (not for credit) at the American College of Greece. AIFS interns will receive training and work with an on-site supervisor. These résumé-enhancing positions which are advertised at orientation can be in areas such as marketing and communication, fundraising or student affairs. Successful students will receive an Internship Certificate on completion of the project.

Full Curriculum means that you can choose any course (subject to prerequisites) from ACG’s entire curriculum. There are over 1,000 courses available across a huge range of subject fields. Courses meet for 3 hours per week and are recommended for 3 credits. Take up to 5 courses (minimum of 4) for a total of 15 credits. All courses are taught in English and classes are from Monday through Friday.

AIFS students with a 3.0 GPA may apply for an on-campus internship position (not for credit) at the American College of Greece. AIFS interns will receive training and work with an on-site supervisor. These résumé-enhancing positions which are advertised at orientation can be in areas such as marketing and communication, fundraising or student affairs. Successful students will receive an Internship Certificate on completion of the project.

View All Courses For Full Curriculum
Niaz Instagram Takeover

A DAY IN THE LIFE Athens

Meet Niaz, a college student from Colorado State University who took over the AIFS Abroad Instagram story recently to answer questions about what it’s like to study abroad in Athens, Greece during her fall semester! Watch as Niaz highlights what a typical day in the life looks like there.

Two students exploring Athens.

Living Abroad

Student Residence

You will live in a beautiful residence complex approximately 10-15 minutes’ walk from the campus in the leafy suburb of Aghia Paraskevi. Transport into the city center (by public bus and Athens’ modern metro) takes about half an hour.

  • Shared double room in two to four-bedroom apartment
  • Fully-equipped kitchens and shared bathrooms
  • On-site laundry facilities
  • Quiet study areas, outdoor areas for BBQs, large lobby with TV and games for casual group gatherings, fitness center on-site
  • Single rooms may be available for a supplemental fee

Meals

ACG Campus Dining Meal Plans are available for an additional fee. Students can sign up directly with ACG prior to the start of the semester and/or at any time during the semester.

Internet access is included in all AIFS housing in Athens.

History

Athens was one of the most important and powerful cities in Greece during the Classical period and it was also the first of the Greek city states to fully develop democracy. 

Sports

The successful Olympic Games in 2004 steered Athens towards becoming a radically different city – a more attractive, cleaner, greener and more efficient capital. 

Culture

As the largest city in Greece, Athens is now sophisticated and cosmopolitan with a vibrant street life and a relaxed lifestyle.

AIFS in Athens Director, Academic Year and Semester Programs

Alice Anastassiou headshot.

Alice Anastassiou

Hello! I am very much looking forward to welcoming you to Athens – my hometown. I studied economics at the American College of Greece (ACG) and then did postgraduate work in the U.K. I am very familiar with student life at ACG and at the same time, have firsthand experience of living and studying abroad.

I am here to make you feel comfortable and safe, and provide you with all the vital information and guidance to get the most out of your experience in Athens, not as a tourist but with a glimpse of how locals enjoy their city, their walks along ancient paths, the coffee shops under the sun, local tavernas with traditional Greek cuisine, beaches and islands.

Athens is a beautiful city, one of the oldest in Europe with a unique blend of rich archaeological sites, numerous museums and a vibrant cultural life. The Athenians and Greeks in general, are known for their philoxenia, graciousness and hospitality, they will welcome you with a smile!

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

In addition to day trips and excursions, a cultural calendar of weekly activities and social events is included in your program fee. These activities will include both typical tourist sites and attractions and lesser known visits which take advantage of the expert knowledge of our local AIFS staff and give you a more authentic and insightful view of Greek life. Typical activities, tours and visits include:

  • Walking tours of Classical Athens
  • The Acropolis and The New Acropolis Museum
  • National Archaeological Museum
  • Athens Concert Hall
  • Ancient Agora
  • Plaka
  • Welcome reception dinner
  • Host family evening – an opportunity for students to spend an evening with a local family in Athens

Students studying at ACG have the opportunity to take part in a non-credit bearing community engagement and service learning experience. Students are prepared for these field experiences with team building sessions, workshops on health and safety in the field, how to identify appropriate actions and reflect on them and talks on servant leadership. Examples of such experiences include volunteering at a local school, painting a nursery school, working with vulnerable people and visiting a refugee camp. A series of activities also take place in Athens throughout the semester when specific needs are identified. Each semester ACG arranges a Meaningful Engagement Trip (MET) where students spend 2-3 days traveling in Greece engaging in service. 

‘Philoxenia’ is an important Greek word meaning ‘love of strangers’ or ‘love of foreigners’, and Greeks know that ‘philoxenia’ is at the heart of their great tradition of hospitality. The goal of the Philoxenia Program is to foster friendships and cultural understanding among the many nationalities at the college. A Greek student will be paired with a study abroad or other international student for friendship and cultural exchange. While there is no set time commitment, paired students are asked to communicate or get together every other week or so for lunch, coffee or just to hang out. As everyone knows, you cannot truly understand a new country without getting to know its people and their experiences. 

Excursions

This program offers a range of day trips and excursions that will take you outside Athens and deepen your social, historical and cultural understanding of Greece. Previous excursions have included:

Delphi and the Sanctuary of Apollo.

Ancient Delphi and the Sanctuary of Apollo

Take a trip back in time to Ancient Greece while visiting Delphi and the Sanctuary of Apollo, with guided tour and sightseeing in scenic ski resort town, Arachova. Includes round-trip transportation, entrance fees and a four-course meal in a traditional Greek taverna.  

  • Greece
  • Day Trip
  • Included in Program Fee
A street on a Greek Island with white buildings and blue doors.

Greek Island (Hydra, Spetses, or Aegina)

Spend a day touring one of the many beautiful Greek islands close to Athens. Visit museums, archaeological sites, harbors and secluded beaches. Includes round-trip transportation, entrance fees and a traditional lunch. 

  • Greece
  • Day Trip
  • Included in Program Fee
The coast of Nafplio.

Nafplio and Palamidi Castle

Guided tour. Includes round-trip transportation, entrance fees and a traditional lunch. 

  • Greece
  • Day Trip
  • Included in Program Fee
An aerial view of Cape Sounion, Greece.

Cape Sounion

Sightseeing opportunities. Includes round-trip transportation, entrance fees and lunch on the coast. 

  • Greece
  • Half Day
  • $105 Spring 2024 / $115 Fall 2024/Spring 2025
Buildings with orange roofs on a cliff in Meteora, Greece.

Meteora, Thessaloniki, and Vergina

Spend a weekend visiting three of Greece’s most interesting locations. Includes tour of sights, round-trip transportation, two nights’ accommodations in Thessaloniki and daily breakfast. 

  • Greece
  • 3 Days
  • $695
Barcelona,Spain
A group of happy students at a carnival.
A view of Prague.

Social identity & access

One of the best things you can do before departure is enter into the journey knowing that your time abroad will be unique to this experience. The resources, community, and support available to you when abroad will likely be different as well. In order to help you prepare for your experience, we have compiled many resources about social identity and access in specific locations abroad. Your program staff will also provide you with more details pre-departure and during orientation.

Learn more

Important Dates & Deadlines

Request Info

Closed

Program is closed

Dates & Deadlines

Details

  • Early Application Deadline*
  • Application Deadline
    July 1, 2023
  • Deposit Deadline
    July 5, 2023
  • Scholarship Deadline
    April 20, 2023
  • Visa Deadline****
  • Optional Departure Flight from US***
    September 6, 2023
  • Program Begins
    September 7, 2023
  • Program Ends
    December 21, 2023
  • Optional Return Flight to US***
    December 22, 2023
  • *** Included for students on AIFS flight package.
  • **** AIFS Abroad offers visa processing services to applicants who enroll into the program by this date. All other applicants who enroll after this date will be responsible for securing their own visa with guidance from AIFS Abroad.

Optional Flight Package

Students can select an optional transportation package for all AIFS programs. Students who choose to book their own flights should meet up with group at the program location and will need to make their own ground transportation arrangements.

Below are fees by departure city based on average historical costs and subject to change. If you select this option on your application, the total flight package price will be confirmed in your account 6 months prior to departure. (Program fee is guaranteed.)

Depature City

Fee

  • Atlanta
    $1,740
  • Boston
    $1,740
  • Buffalo
    $1,560
  • Charlotte
    $1,660
  • Chicago
    $1,700
  • Cincinnati
    $1,760
  • Columbus
    $1,600
  • Dallas
    $1,800
  • Denver
    $1,840
  • Des Moines
    $1,840
  • Detroit
    $1,760
  • Houston
    $1,760
  • Los Angeles
    $1,760
  • Miami
    $1,660
  • Minneapolis
    $1,760
  • New York
    $1,540
  • Newark
    $1,540
  • Orlando
    $1,820
  • Philadelphia
    $1,660
  • Phoenix
    $1,800
  • Pittsburgh
    $1,560
  • Raleigh/Durham
    $1,760
  • San Francisco
    $1,740
  • Seattle
    $1,840
  • St. Louis
    $1,840
  • Washington/Dulles
    $1,440
  • View more View less

See what others are saying

Two students walking in a field.

Ready to Study Abroad in Athens?

For more dates or questions, contact your program consultant:
(203) 399-5163 or email: aifsabroad@aifs.com